Hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) scheme with in-sequence delivery of packets
First Claim
1. A method, for use in a wireless communication system using a layered protocol having a plurality of protocol layers with each layer above the lowest layer using the services of the next lower layer and having a physical layer as the lowest layer and a media access control layer using the services of the physical layer, the method comprising:
- the media access control layer of a sending terminal assigning a respective data block sequence number to each data block in a sequence of data blocks, and the media access control layer transmitting to a peer media access control layer of a receiving terminal the data blocks and the respective sequence numbers via the physical layer;
the peer media access control layer of the receiving terminal communicating to the media access control layer of the sending terminal an acknowledgement of each received data block in the sequence of blocks after a fixed delay from receiving the data block without providing information indicating the respective data block sequence numbers.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method, along with corresponding devices (11 12) and a system (11 12), by which in-sequence delivery of data blocks, sent wirelessly by a sending terminal (11), is provided to a radio link control layer (12a) of a receiving terminal (12) by a media access control layer service (12b) of the receiving terminal (12), where the data blocks are communicated according to a protocol, such as WCDMA, in which a media access control layer (11b) of the sending terminal (11) includes as a service the transmission of the data blocks and possible retransmission of the same data blocks in response to ACK/NAK signaling by a corresponding service included in a media access control layer of the receiving terminal. No data block sequence number is used in the ACK/NAK signaling.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A method, for use in a wireless communication system using a layered protocol having a plurality of protocol layers with each layer above the lowest layer using the services of the next lower layer and having a physical layer as the lowest layer and a media access control layer using the services of the physical layer, the method comprising:
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the media access control layer of a sending terminal assigning a respective data block sequence number to each data block in a sequence of data blocks, and the media access control layer transmitting to a peer media access control layer of a receiving terminal the data blocks and the respective sequence numbers via the physical layer; the peer media access control layer of the receiving terminal communicating to the media access control layer of the sending terminal an acknowledgement of each received data block in the sequence of blocks after a fixed delay from receiving the data block without providing information indicating the respective data block sequence numbers. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An apparatus, comprising a media access control layer and a higher protocol layer of a layered protocol having a plurality of protocol layers with each layer above the lowest layer using the services of the next lower layer, and also comprising a physical layer as the loWest layer and providing services to the media access control layer, the media access control layer including:
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means for receiving a sequence of data blocks and respective data block sequence numbers from the physical layer and for delivering in order at least some of the data blocks to the higher protocol layer; and means for acknowledging receipt of each of the received data blocks after a fixed delay from receiving each data block in the sequence of data blocks without providing information indicating the respective data block sequence number. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
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14. An apparatus for use by a communication terminal in providing wireless communication with another communication terminal, said apparatus comprising a media access control layer and a higher protocol layer of a layered protocol having a plurality of protocol layers with each layer above the lowest layer using the services of the next lower layer, and also comprising a physical layer as the lowest layer and providing services to the media access control layer, and wherein the media access control layer is configured to:
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receive a sequence of data blocks and respective data block sequence numbers from the physical layer and deliver in order at least some of the data blocks to the higher protocol layer; and acknowledge receipt of each of the received data blocks after a fixed delay from receiving the data block in the sequence of data blocks without providing information indicating the respective data block sequence number. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method for use by a media access control layer of a communications terminal, comprising:
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assigning a respective data block sequence number to each data block in a sequence of data blocks and transmitting to a receiving terminal the data blocks and the respective sequence numbers; and receiving from the receiving terminal a positive or negative acknowledgment of receipt of each data block in the sequence of data blocks not including the respective data block sequence numbers, and identifying the corresponding data block based on a fixed delay between sending a data block and receiving a positive or negative acknowledgment for the data block.
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21. A method for use by a media access control layer of a communications terminal, comprising:
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receiving from a transmitting terminal a sequence of data blocks and respective data block sequence numbers; and providing after a fixed delay a positive or negative acknowledgment of receipt of each of the data blocks in the sequence of data blocks without including the respective data block sequence number.
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22. An apparatus for use by a communication terminal operative according to a layered protocol having a physical layer as the lowest layer, comprising:
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a media access control layer, configured to assign a respective data block sequence number to each data block in a sequence of data blocks and transmit to a receiving terminal the data blocksand the respective sequence numbers using the physical layer; and further configured to receive from the receiving terminal via the physical layer a positive or negative acknowledgment of receipt of the data blocks not including the respective data block sequence numbers; wherein the media access control layer is still further configured to identify the corresponding data block in the sequence of data blocks based on a fixed delay between sending a data block and receiving a positive or negative acknowledgment for the data block. - View Dependent Claims (23)
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24. An apparatus for use by a communication terminal operative according to a layered protocol having a physical layer as the lowest layer, comprising a media access control layer including:
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means for assigning a respective data block sequence number to each data block in a sequence of data blocks and transmitting to a receiving terminal the data blocks and the respective sequence numbers using the physical layer; and means for receiving from the receiving terminal via the physical layer a positive or negative acknowledgment of receipt of each of the data blocks in the sequence of data blocks not including the respective data block sequence numbers, and for identifying the corresponding data block based on a fixed delay between sending a data block and receiving a positive or negative acknowledgment for the data block.
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Specification